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Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Wild as in Familiar by Ellarine Lockie, reviewed by BL Kennedy

In the distant squawk of seagulls The ocean sucks you inOn this woodland walk The wind whispers your nameBy the pink clover blossoms A bee promiscuous in publicThe sun’s copper shine on a penny The year we metA tree struck by lightning Dark and split before meFear in a deer’s eyes Yet you didn’t runBroken green glass Your fetish for sharp edgesShards stilled and embedded by foot traffic Tin tastes of blood running down a thigh Moss swelling between rocks Postage stamp lick in a damp placeRed breast in a robin Scarlet silk untetheredAn empty Marlboro pack crushed A dead wasp in my windowsill.

Wild as in Familiar is conceivably Ellaraine Lockie’s best collection, and I need to clarify that when I say best collection, I am simply talking about the collections that I have read by this talented poet. At twenty six plus pages, the chapbook is a handsome edition to any poetry lover’s library.

I find of these poems to be explosive and charming; a considerable accomplishment, for here, the poet Lockie addresses both childhood memories and nightmares. In fact, I can say there is almost non-human, spooky quality that both haunt and comfort in this collection of poetry.

The poet takes us on a journey wild and familiar and seems almost like a grounded Steven King. I really like this book, and as a poet, I’m very fond of Ellaraine Lockie, for I do not know of many poets who can take such natural images as earthworms, rosebushes, crows and hummingbirds and turn them into a lyrical reflection that readers will embrace. Purchase this collection.